Method of molding articles from amber or ambroid.



, ,PATBNTBD?M11-7,1904. .2. L. GAYLORD;l y

APPLIOATION fummo. 1,1903

lill.

"""lli METHOD 0F MOLDING ARTICLES FROM AMBER o-R AMBROID.

110 MODEL.

' UNITED STATES Patented May 17, 1904.

PATENT OEEICEo METHOD oF MoLplNG AnTlCLEs FROM `AMBER on AMBROID:

YSPECIFICA'.rrorrforming part of Letters Patent No. 760,191, dated May 17, l1.904,.

.Y Application filed December 1, 1903. Serial vIIa-183,376. (No. specimens.)

I To all wiz/om it mag/concern: y

' Be it known that LEDWARD L. GAYLORD, a citizen of the Un ited- States, residing atBridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Molding Articles from Amber or Ambroid.; and I do hereby d eclare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the method of mold-k ing `articles from amber or ambroid; and it consists of certain novel methods or processes particularly pointed out in the claims lconclud-k ing this specification.

The following is adescription of my improved method inthe fo'rm in which I now prefer to practice it and of the apparatus which I now prefer to employ in connection therewith; but it will be understood that my claims are not limited to the employment of any .particular apparatus and that the process herein described may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention and without exceeding the scope of my claims. l

Certain features of the process hereinafter described are not essential to the several features of my invention separately and broadly considered, and this willbeI indicated where in any given claim-thegomission of reference to steps orfeatures of .the process described will be understood to bea specific declaration that the omitted steps or features are not essential to the invention therein covered. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- illustrates a front elevation of an apparatus for carrying out my improvement. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the primary heating-chamber and moldfcase and with the top section of the heating-jacket re-l moved; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional elevation of the apparatus shown at Fig. 1." Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively detail elevationsof opposite ends of the mold-case with the core-supports in position, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective showing a form of strengthening or reinforcing band.

Similar characters of reference denotelike parts in the several figures of the drawings'.

In carrying out my improvement I prefer to employ a primary heating-chamber l, which has a longitudinal opening or chamber 2, circular vin cross-section and highly polished,` 'l within whichchamber is a plug 3, also highly polished and fitting theopening 2`with the greatest nicety, so as to be practically air and gas tight. 4 is a plunger which fits within the openingQ and abuts against said plug.

In the accompanying drawi'ngsfI have shown suitable molds whereby my process may bel carried out for the purpose of producinga stem or mouthpiece for a pipe; but it will of i course be readily understood` that thev manner' in which the molds would be constructed and held in position would depend largely upon the nature of the article to be produced;

In the drawings I have .shown a mold-case 5 which has a tapered longitudinal opening 6 therethrough, said opening being circular in cross-sectioni and highly polished. Thel particular mold for the main portion of the stem is made in two halves 7 8, adapted to lit together withthe greatest nicety, and the exterior surfaces of these halves when fitted to# gether are circular in cross-section and are y tapering, so that they may be forced within ,f the mold-.case 5, the action of the tapered surfaces ofthe molds and the case being tounite the halves of the mold together, so that I obtain ythe benefits that might arise from the use y of a single mold and at the same time preserve all the advantages of a sectional mold.' 9 is a third section of the mold, which is in- 'serted snugly within the larger end of the opening in the mold-case and extends within the mold 7 8 and is formed witha central circular opening l0 of a diameter much less than that of the opening at thel inner end of thel molds 7'8, and this section 9 is utilized for the purpose of making the shouldered reduced end of the stem which serves as the plug to be inserted within the short stem of the pipe- I In a pipe mouthpiece or stem the part most likely to chip or become broken is the shouldered portion which is intended to abut against the short stem of the pipe-bowl, and I therefore frequently strengthen or reinforce this portion by means of a ring or band 11 of metal, which is placed snugly within the main mold adjacent to the section 9. This ring or band may be plain, or it may be ornamental, as shown, and with an open-work pattern.

12 is a disk snugly contained within the smaller end of the opening in the mold-case.

The ends of the mold-case areV finished very accurately and are highly polished, and I employ closure-caps 13 14, whose surfaces are likewise highly polished, which caps are abutted against the ends of the mold-case, so as to vmake the latter perfectly air-tight.

The mold-case, the closure-caps, and the primary heating chamber are all contained snugly within a heating-jacket composed of two sections -15 16, provided with series of openings 17 18 for the introduction of the heating agent, and these sectionsof the. heating-jacket are held firmly together in any suitable manner. I y

19 is the core-pin, which is supported ati'ts ends bythe closure-caps 13 14. The closurecap 14 is provided with v minute perforations 20, which establish communication between the primary heating-chamber and the interior of the mold, While at the other end of the mold small ducts 21 lead from the interior of the mold to the outside of the disk 12.

` As will be hereinafter set forth, the amber is forced Within the/.mold through the perforations 20, While aslight releasing of the closurecap 1 3 will permit the escape of gases from the interior of the mold to the outside air.

Y VWhen the parts heretofore mentioned are contained Within the heating-jacket, the end of the primary chamber labuts snuglyvagainst the closure-.cap 14, so as to make an air-tight joint, and the closure-cap 13 and the primary heating-chamber will project slightly beyond the heating-case, as shown,A so that when the pressure-blocks 22 23 are brought to bear against said closure-cap and chamber the varions parts of the molding apparatus will be held together.

Amber, preferably in comminuted form,v as denoted by a, Iis packed within the opening of the primary chamber 1, and the plug 3 is then inserted within said opening and the plunger 4 introduced behind the plug. I prefer to place the exact amount of amber Whichwill iill the mold within this opening, which amount may be ascertained by careful experiment. The heating agent is now introduced Within the openings in the heating-jacket that are in proximity to the primary chamber 1; but no heat is applieddirectly to the mold as yet. The heat is continued until the amber has become reduced to the state in which it may be forced into the mold through the perforations 20. The plunger 4 is operated by any suitable mechanism, and the proper consistency of the amber may be ascertained by carefully noting the temperature and by attempting to operate the plunger. When the amber is forced through the perforations 2O into the cooler-mold, it disintegrates and iills the mold in the form of a very tine powder, and after the plunger has been operated to deliver the amber from the primary chamber to the molds and to thereby compress the amber atoms into a dense mass the heating agent may be removed from the primary chamber and applied to the openings in the heating-jacket that are in proximity to the molds.

I have ascertained that the amber can be forced from the primary heatingchamber into the molds in atomized form at a temperature of from 16()O to 19()O centigradc, and I prefer to force the amber into the molds at the lowest possible temperature. After the amberV has been forced Within the molds and rendered sufficiently dense by the action of the plunger it is desirable that no further mechanical or external pressure should be applied, since ay pressure applied to the amber at this stage appears to set the amber in mechanical motion and to seriously interfere with the natural expansion of the amber and the production of a homogeneous article.

I prefer to apply to the molds heat varying from 220O to 27()O centigrade, and during this heating the amber atoms become unified and converted into a homogeneous stat-c. Furthermore, during this heating the amber expands, conforming to the most delicate details of the molds and yielding a uniform highly-polished surface.

The Variations in temperature above noted are due to the nature of the amber itself and also to the article to be produced. Some amber gums require less heating than others, andarticles of a delicate and thin pattern, like cups and saucers, are more likely to show discoloration, owing to carbonization, if subjected to the same heat as might safely be applied in the instance of more bulky and less delicate articles, such as buttons or cigarmouthpieces.

, It will thus bevunderstood that the heat is preferably applied to the molds at a much higher temperature than in the instance of the primary.heating-chamber, even in many instances beyond the point where the amber atoms have come together by cohesion and have expanded so as to completely vlill the molds at the required density.

Subsequent to the application of heat to the primary heating-chamber the amber begins to yield up its gases, and this releasing of gases may continue more or less until the final expansion of the amber within the molds, and in order to release these gases I slightly relax the pressure on the closure-cap 13, so that the gases will escape through the ducts 21 to the outside air. It may be that these gases will all escape during the initial action of the plunger to force the amber within the IOO the judgment and experience of any one molds, or it may be necessary lto provide forthe escaping of these gases until the final ex-` pansion of the amber. This depends entirely upon the nature of the amber and upon the article to be produced; but my process is not limited to the releasing ofthe gases -at any particular time, and therefore such gases may be allowed to escape at any time, according to who practices my process.

,If it is desiredthat the article to be produced shall be clear and not cloudy, the gases should be allowed to escape; but if the cloudy effect is to be retained in the amber article more or less of these gases shouldvbe kept conned in the molds.

. If the amber that is comminuted and packed within the primary heating-chamber be naturally clear, acloudy effect in the-article to be produced may be brought about by introducing water within this primary heating-chamber when the comminuted amber ispacked therein. I can also introduce within this primary heating-cham'ber any suitable coloringmatter that may be desired, which will be intimately mixed with the powdered Ymaterial when introduced into the mold, thus giving a uniform tint or color to the completed article.

During the heating of the amber within the molds, whereby said amber froma powdered condition becomes an integral mass, there is preferably no pressure that is directly applied by the'action of the plunger or other mechan ical means to said amber. c

It is owing to the peculiarity of amber that it will expand when it passes from the atomized state to the moldable state, and this expansion, together with the final heating, will cause the amber to conform to the most delicate lines of the molds, and the article thereby produced will be exceedingly dense and highly polished. When the heating agent-is withdrawn, the cooling of the molds will cause the amber article to contract slightly.`

In my process I can utilize small pieces or chips of amber, and I am likewise enabled to effect a-great saving of' the amber, owing to the fact that I am enabled to mold the article complete in all its details without carbonization or waste. f

From the foregoing it will be clearlyvunderstood that the amber is preferably subjected to two separate heats, a relatively lower heat while in the'primary heating-chamber and a relatively higher heat while in the molds, the former heat being merely suHicient to enable the amber to be atomized within the molds, while the latter heat is much greater.

I have heretofore referred to certain metallic portions which are preferably contained Within the mold, so that they will be embedded in the completed article so as to reinforce and ornament the same; but I do not wish to be understood as claiming any such reinforcement or ornamentation in this present application, since I have fully described and claimed tober 20, 1891, and I .therefore disclaim said processes; but

p What I claim'isg l. The process of molding amber or am- -broid, which consists in reducing the gum to a powdered state and heatingthe powdered gum in a suitable mold.

2. The process of molding amber or ambroid, which consists ink reducing the gum toa v powdered state and heating the powdered gumy in a suitable mold without the-applicationofv mechanical or externalV pressurethereto.

3. f-The process of moldlng amberl orambroid, whichconsists in reducing-the gum to a l powdered stateand heating the powdered gum mixed with coloring-matter in a suitable mold.

4. The process of moldingamber or ambroid, ywhich consists in reducing the gum to a powdered state by the combined action of heat and pressure and subsequently reheating the powdered gum in a suitable mold. Y

5. The process of molding amber or ambroid, which` consists in reducing the gum to a powdered state by the action of heatand pressure, `forcing theguni froma heated chamber into a comparatively cool space, and subsequently reheating the powdered gum in a suitable mold. y

6. The process of molding amber. or ambroid, which consists'in reducing the gum to a powdered state bythe combined action of heat and pressure, forcing the gum from the heating-chamber into a mold, and subsequently reheating the gum while contained in said mold.- 7 The process of molding amberor ambroid, which consists in heating the gum to about the temperature at which it becomes mobile, tlienforcing it under pressure into a cooler space and then subjecting it to a temperature substantially higher than that at which it becomes mobile.

8. In the process of preparing amber or ambroid, for molding, heating the gum to render it a mobile mass and removing from said mass gases generated during the heating process.

9. The process of molding articles from amber or ambroid, which consists in molding the gum without mechanical pressure-while confined in a dense state bythe application of a heat sufiicient to reduce the gum to an integral mass and to cause it to expand whereby the required density is obtained, and then cooling said mass;

10. The process of molding articles' from TOO IIO

amber or ambroid, which consists in molding the gum Without mechanical pressure While coniined in a dense powdered state by the application of a heat suiiicient to cause the powdered particles to unite by cohesion and expand, and then cooling the mass.

11. The process of molding articles from amber or ambroid, which consists in primarily heating the gum while coniined in comminuted form until it has been brought to a mobile state, then forcing the gum into a relatively cool mold, then subjecting the gum to an increased heat but Without the application of mechanical pressure until said gum has become an integral mass and has expanded to give the required density, and iinally cooling the gum.

12. The process of molding articles from amber or ambroid, Which consists in confining the gum in comminuted state, heating the gum at a relatively loW temperature, then atomizing the gum and confining it in a densely-V packed state, subjecting the gum While thus coniined to an increased heat until it has become an integral mass and has expanded to` in said state to an increased heat until it has become an integral mass of the required density, releasing the gas or gases from the gum subsequent to the iirst heating, and iinally allowing the gum to cool.

14. The process of molding articles from amber or ambroid, Which consists in heating the gum in comminuted form at the minimum temperature required to reduce the gum to a mobile state, atomizing the gum and confining it in a densely-packed state, and finally subjecting the densely-packed atomized gum to an increased temperature carried beyond the limit of expansion of said gum.

15. rlhe process of molding articles from amber or ambroid, Which consists in primarily heating the gum in comminuted state to a relatively low temperature, atomizing the gum thus heated and coniining itin densely-packed form, and then heating the gum beyond the limit of its expansion and without the application oi' mechanical pressure.

16. The process of molding amber or ambroid, which consists in introducing water into a mass of amber particles and heating said mass and subsequently molding it into the dcsired form.

17. The process of molding articles from amber or ambroid, which consists in introducing Water Within the amber while coniined in comminuted form, heating the amber thus confined until it has been brought to a lnobile state, then forcing the amber into a relatively cool mold and subjecting the same to an increased heat.

18. rlhe process of molding amber or ambroid, which consists in introducing water into the particles of amber, primarily heating the amber and water until the mass becomes mobile, atomizing the amber and eoniining it in densely-.packed condition, and iinally heating the amber while in this condition and molding it into the desired form.

19. The process of molding articles from amber orambroid, which consists in primarily heating the gum until it becom cs mobile, atomizing the gum and coniining it in densely- .packed condition, and iinally heating the gum while in this condition and molding it into the desired form.

- 20. The process of molding articles from amber or ambroid, which consists in primarily heating the gum until it becomes mobile, atomizing the gum and coniining it in denselypacked condition` and linally heating the gum While in this condition and in a passive state, and molding said gum into the desired form by the aid of the expansion of the gum after it has been reduced to a moldable state by the action of the heat.

ln testimony whereof] aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD L. GAYLORI).

Witnesses:

F. NV. SMITH, Jr., M. T. LoNGDnN. 

